Whoever ignores discipline despises self,

but the person who listens to warning gains understanding.

The fear of the Lord is discipline {leading to} wisdom,

and humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:32-33 God’s Word ©).

“Do not let me be persuaded to do anything evil

or to become involved with wickedness,

with people who are troublemakers. Do not let me taste their delicacies.

A righteous person may strike me or correct me out of kindness.

It is like lotion for my head.

My head will not refuse it,

because my prayer is directed against evil deeds” (Psalm 141:4-5 God’s Word ©).

The conservatory in the hospital where my brother successfully survived emergency heart surgery

The conservatory in the hospital where my brother successfully survived emergency heart surgery

I took some BA courses at a university that had a Baptist seminary. Since I am inclined that way I hung around in the seminary lounge. I heard the students trashing some of the professors whom they judged to be apostates and heretics. Since I am inclined that way I had something to say. “Since they have earned doctorates and were hired by a committee and since they teach about Jesus I think you could learn something from them,” I said. They stared at me, and never trashed another teacher in front of me.

When someone teaches something that challenges me, or forces me to look at God in a new way or pushes me beyond my comfort level of experience, do I trash them with slanderous name-calling, or do I humbly fall before God and ask if a lesson has been hurled in my direction?

I am not saying swallow everything without discernment. I’m saying discern before trashing.

When a righteous person corrects me, even with a strong arm, do I receive it “like lotion for my head”, or do I try to concuss them on the head?

God has sent those who have stripped layers of skin off me to expose wounds or disease that had to heal. Once exposed God applied aloe like a lotion and made me well (okay, well-er). They helped God to work a good thing for my salvation.

I’d rather get lotion for devotion than stay thick in my sick.

Ouch, but better for it.